Return-Path: <nifl-technology@literacy.nifl.gov> Received: from literacy (localhost [127.0.0.1]) by literacy.nifl.gov (8.10.2/8.10.2) with SMTP id eAEIup909965; Tue, 14 Nov 2000 13:56:51 -0500 (EST) Date: Tue, 14 Nov 2000 13:56:51 -0500 (EST) Message-Id: <3540108244.974202717@dhcp-176-0218.unm.edu> Errors-To: listowner@literacy.nifl.gov Reply-To: nifl-technology@literacy.nifl.gov Originator: nifl-technology@literacy.nifl.gov Sender: nifl-technology@literacy.nifl.gov Precedence: bulk From: "\\" <sreiers@unm.edu> To: Multiple recipients of list <nifl-technology@literacy.nifl.gov> Subject: [NIFL-TECHNOLOGY:1424] Re: Digital Divide - A Skills or Acces X-Listprocessor-Version: 6.0c -- ListProcessor by Anastasios Kotsikonas Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii X-Mailer: Mulberry (Win32) [1.4.4, s/n S-399010] Status: O Content-Length: 11813 Lines: 316 Does one need a cd rom drive to get free ISP services? A cd rom was just installed on my computer but doesn't work. Thanks for your responses! --On Tuesday, November 14, 2000, 1:35 PM -0500 Ken Springer <info@premier-programming.com> wrote: > www.freeinet.com > > -----Original Message----- > From: nifl-technology@nifl.gov [mailto:nifl-technology@nifl.gov]On > Behalf Of \ > Sent: Tuesday, November 14, 2000 9:54 AM > To: Multiple recipients of list > Subject: [NIFL-TECHNOLOGY:1420] Re: Digital Divide - A Skills or Acces > > > How can one access the free ISPs? > > > > --On Friday, November 10, 2000, 2:30 PM -0500 "Peter S. Hayes" > <phayes02@maine.rr.com> wrote: > >> I am guilty of a bit of hyperbole! I'll agree that the free ISPs aren't >> necessarily targeting the poorer users. However, they are the ones who >> are more limited to the free ISPs, complete with all of the imposed >> conditions (cookies, better tracking, streaming advertisements and >> crawling information...). >> >> With absolutely no proof (just anecdotal observation) I wonder if these >> people aren't even more susceptible to the tactics (of sales, marketing, >> targeting). Also, most merchants who accept your credit card information >> commit to making your information available only for certain relatively >> explicit purposes. When that information is given in exchange for "free" >> access, are the same types of agreements tendered? The few I've read have >> scared me away! >> >> >> Pete >> >> ----- Original Message ----- >> From: "Ajit Gopalakrishnan" <agopalak@crec.org> >> To: "Multiple recipients of list" <nifl-technology@literacy.nifl.gov> >> Sent: Friday, November 10, 2000 10:33 AM >> Subject: [NIFL-TECHNOLOGY:1413] Re: Digital Divide - A Skills or Acces >> >> >>> Peter, >>> >>> I concur with most of the points you raised, especially that having a >>> computer at home is a lot different from occasionally going to the >>> library or school and using it. I think it is an issue of transfer... or >>> may be internalization of learning. This makes an argument that the >>> access-divide and the skills-divide are somewhat related and not totally >>> independent of each other; bridging the former, goes toward bridging the >>> latter. >>> >>> I think I differ from some of your views with regard to free internet >>> access. >>> >>> I agree that free access is anything but free. I also agree that, though >> the >>> time limits you mention (i.e. clicking on the advertisements) seem to >>> have all but disappeared from the Free ISPs, they still pump advertising >> through >>> their channels. In my personal experience with free access with both >>> Altavista and Bluelight, the advertisement downloads seem to take >> precedence >>> over any other download the user might have requested. >>> >>> As regards privacy, I don't know enough to say whether using free ISPs >>> present any greater privacy concern than simply surfing the net or >>> filling out an online survey or perhaps buying something online with a >>> credit >> card. >>> >>> I also don't believe as you mention that the privacy lost when using >>> Free ISPs is a price paid only by the poor and not by the well-off. I >>> don't >> know >>> of statistics that support that point i.e. who are the users of Free >>> ISPs. >> I >>> will say however that, in my opinion, the Free ISPs are really not >> targeting >>> the poor but others with more purchasing power. >>> >>> This is somewhat supported by the fact that the Free ISPs require the >> latest >>> versions of browsers and operating systems which typically require newer >>> machines that cost $800 or more. These Free ISPs will not run, for >> example, >>> on 486s or used, refurbished older Pentiums with low RAM, which Dinesh >>> D'Souza rightly points out are available for the cost of say a 20" >>> television. Those older machines crash often or are dismally slow when >>> loaded with Win 95/98; I believe they are functional and useable when >> loaded >>> with simpler operating systems like New Deal. >>> >>> Ajit >>> >>> Ajit Gopalakrishnan >>> Capitol Region Education Council >>> 111 Charter Oak Avenue >>> Hartford, CT 06106 >>> Phone: (860) 524-4036 >>> Fax: (860) 246-3304 >>> Email: agopalak@crec.org >>> Web Site: http://www.crec.org/atdn/ >>> >>> > -----Original Message----- >>> > From: Peter S. Hayes [SMTP:phayes02@maine.rr.com] >>> > Sent: Friday, November 10, 2000 8:23 AM >>> > To: Multiple recipients of list >>> > Subject: [NIFL-TECHNOLOGY:1412] Re: Digital Divide - A Skills or >>> > Access Divide? >>> > >>> > I think he has absolutely no idea what a dollar means to someone on a >> low >>> > income budget. The $800.00 computer is just as unobtainable as the >>> > $2500.00 >>> > one to many people, and having access in the home as part of everyday >> life >>> > is drastically different from access in the library or school, as a >>> > resource >>> > which must be actively sought. >>> > >>> > The "free" access is anything but. With the advertisements pumped >> through >>> > the access lines, the limitations involved (click on one of the >>> > sponsors every N minutes or lose your connection, for example), and >>> > the loss of privacy required of these connections, I would not wish to >>> > be the user. However, it is a price paid by the poor, not the >>> > well-off. >>> > >>> > Skills are only part of the problem. I think that many young people >>> > are relatively well-versed in "using" the internet. However, they >>> > don't >> often >>> > use it to best advantage. I have "kids" and end up being the hangout >>> > for >> a >>> > number of young teens from the local schools because of a relatively >> good >>> > internet connection and home network. However, few of them realize the >>> > benefit of having the internet available for information; they know of >> its >>> > use for "school stuff" (uninteresting and of no use) and for games >>> > (interesting but not terribly useful). I think a change in attitudes >>> > is needed here, and it is definitely a "class" oriented change, not >>> > one of the >>> > educational system alone. >>> > >>> > I think much of the same can be said of their parents. Those I meet >> often >>> > (we live in a relatively affluent suburb of Portland, Maine) have >> internet >>> > access at home. But they often don't think to use it for information >>> > access >>> > either. They occasionally shop the internet, are becoming familiar >>> > with email, and know all about the porn sites, but don't necessarily >>> > think of it >>> > as a source of good information. Here, skills may be partially lacking >> (a >>> > place where adult ed can do some good) but a change in attitude (why >> it's >>> > important to know some things, to stay abreast of what's happening, to >>> > read...) is even more important. I think it's the same societal >>> > problem we've always had. Some people are taught to think in our >>> > society while others are mostly taught to think they think... >>> > >>> > I didn't react well to the report, needless to say! >>> > >>> > >>> > Pete >>> > ----- Original Message ----- >>> > From: "Ajit Gopalakrishnan" <agopalak@crec.org> >>> > To: "Multiple recipients of list" <nifl-technology@literacy.nifl.gov> >>> > Sent: Wednesday, November 08, 2000 5:00 PM >>> > Subject: [NIFL-TECHNOLOGY:1408] Digital Divide - A Skills or Access >>> > Divide? >>> > >>> > >>> > > Yesterday on NPR's All Things Considered, conservative thinker >>> > > Dinesh D'Souza gave a 3 minute commentary on the Digital Divide. >>> > > You can >> listen >>> > to >>> > > his commentary (Real Audio File) at >>> > > http://www.npr.org/ramfiles/atc/20001107.atc.13.rmm >>> > > >>> > > In his commentary, he argues that the Digital Divide is really a >> skills >>> > > divide and not one of access. He mentions that five years ago when >>> > computers >>> > > cost $2500, he could understand that many could not afford it. >> However, >>> > > today with computer costs coming down and used computers costing as >> much >>> > as >>> > > a television, and with cheap to free Internet access, he says that >>> > > the >>> > issue >>> > > is not one of access but of skills/knowledge. He mentions that >>> > > getting Internet access today is liken to getting telephone access >>> > > or >> television >>> > > access. He also makes the point that internet access is available at >>> > public >>> > > schools and libraries and that someone who wants Internet access can >> get >>> > it. >>> > > >>> > > As a means of solving this problem, he goes on to argue that we must >>> > teach >>> > > the young people of today not only how to use the technology but >>> > > also >>> > its >>> > > value in the new world. >>> > > >>> > > Did any of you hear this commentary? If so what did you think? >>> > > >>> > > My Views: >>> > > He portrays the digital divide ONLY as a skills divide. I disagree >> with >>> > that >>> > > view. To me that is exemplified by the struggle adult education >> programs >>> > > have to go through to gain Internet access in their programs. Many >>> > times, >>> > > they are barred from accessing the computer labs with Internet >>> > > access >>> > that >>> > > are housed in the very same public school building that they are >> housed >>> > in, >>> > > and are used with the "young people" that Dinesh D'Souza talks >>> > > about. >> In >>> > > Connecticut (as is probably not uncommon nationwide), programs have >> had >>> > to >>> > > remind, advocate, and lobby with their local public school districts >> to >>> > be >>> > > included in their school-district wide networking initiatives or >>> > technology >>> > > purchasing initiatives, from which they are typically excluded. >>> > > >>> > > Why do I talk about program access? Because for adult education >> programs >>> > to >>> > > educate people on technology, which I agree with Dinesh D'Souza is >>> > > the >>> > way >>> > > to liberation for many, adult education programs need to have access >>> > > first..... and that IS an issue today. Hopefully, with initiatives >> like >>> > the >>> > > CTC and our commitment to technology planning, access won't be an >> issue >>> > in >>> > > the near future. >>> > > >>> > > Yes, theoretically access should not even be an issue in a country >>> > > as affluent as this one. For that matter, many other issues like >>> > > health insurance also should not even be an issue.... but they >>> > > are... because >>> > (I >>> > > believe) of fear, prejudice, and power. >>> > > >>> > > Another question is "where" is the access. I don't believe that >>> > > having access ONLY through the public libraries or schools is >>> > > sufficient. The technology definitely needs to be part of the home >>> > > and I am not >>> > convinced >>> > > that the technology is as affordable as Dinesh D'Souza makes it out >>> > > to >>> > be. >>> > > >>> > > Lastly, I would like to say that when stating his problem of how >> Blacks >>> > and >>> > > Hispanics are not accessing the Internet as much as Whites and >>> > > Asians >>> > are, >>> > I >>> > > am not sure if Dinesh D'Souza is referring to adults or "young >> people". >>> > > However, when he proposes the solution of skills education, he only >>> > makes >>> > > mention of educating the young people and says nothing about adults. >>> > > >>> > > I am also not sure what his views are on who should pay for the >>> > > education/skill building that he talks about. >>> > > >>> > > Ajit >>> > > >>> > > Ajit Gopalakrishnan >>> > > Capitol Region Education Council >>> > > 111 Charter Oak Avenue >>> > > Hartford, CT 06106 >>> > > Phone: (860) 524-4036 >>> > > Fax: (860) 246-3304 >>> > > Email: agopalak@crec.org >>> > > Web Site: http://www.crec.org/atdn/ >>> > > >> > > > >
This archive was generated by hypermail 2b30 : Tue Jan 16 2001 - 14:45:41 EST